Tessera

I think it is interesting how people especially from the outside might interpret that something is "deep-rooted" even though that might not be the case. I found someone saying this in a comment:

From my perspective, trying to show Koreans how foreign people are “jealous” or want to be Korean feels a bit strange. It is one thing to show that foreigners enjoy K-pop, K-dramas, fashion, food, or cover dances.

One of the videos that I watched was "Minorities within Minorities". It made me think about how identity is not just something we “have,” but something we often need to feel connected to. www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0dy...

[KLN] Interview with Jane Jeong Trenka | 소설가 제인 정 트렌카 인터뷰 (ENG SUB)

YouTube video by LTI Korea 한국문학번역원

youtube.com

I think that subtle "lolita" types of sexual objectification is extremely harmful for young people to see and it sends the wrong message. It is not normal to teens to act seductively or exploit their innocence as something that is desirable or sexy.

1. "I killed her because women ignored me.” Obviously this is an extreme example but the fact that the man that killed a woman in the public bathroom in Gangnam blamed the women. She was killed because she was a women and he tried to make it seems it is the womens fault that this happened.

#Korea might not be as competitive or as overpowering as it was in the beginning of #Hallyu wave. Other countries in Asia especially in South East Asia have started to produced their own similar kind of content.

I read the article about Sanae Takaichi, Japan’s first female prime minister.T he article says this is important because Japan has never had a woman prime minister before. eastasiaforum.org/2025/10/24/n...

No feminist fanfare for Japan’s first female prime minister

Takaichi’s victory shows that Japan’s glass ceiling is composed not only of traditional sexist forces, but also feminist perspectives that only accept women who share their progressive outlook.

eastasiaforum.org

Masculinity can be fragile in everyday ways. My brother is almost 16 and has normal teenage pimples, but even buying concealer feels difficult because makeup is still seen as “for women,” or as something that could make people question his sexuality.

I think it is too simple to say that the Korean government “made K-pop” or “made #Hallyu.” The government helped, but it did not create the music, films, idols, stories, or fan culture by itself.

I read this article about Telegram channels in #Korea where women’s photos and private information were shared. Some fake sexual stories and #deepfakes were also posted. The police detained the boys who ran the channels. koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2026-04...

Three teens busted for running Telegram channels exploiting women using doxxed info

Three teenagers were apprehended for running Telegram chat rooms where they shared sexually exploitative material of women, along with their personal information, according to police on Monday.

koreajoongangdaily.joins.com

The Al Jazeera article on sexual assault in Japan shows how important framing is. One possible frame is the Orientalist one: “Japan is sexually weird.” www.aljazeera.com/features/201...

Sexual assault in Japan: ‘Every girl was a victim’

Sexual assault of schoolgirls is commonplace on Japan's public transportation, but now more girls are speaking out.

aljazeera.com

I understand the idea of parasocial relationships in K-pop: fans feel close to idols, and companies protect that fantasy because it sells. So I get why boy groups often avoid having a clear female love interest in music videos, because it might make some fans feel excluded or jealous.

In the article “Musicians, the Music Industry, and Suicide” by Musgrave and Lamis (2025), the authors discuss how musicians, including K-pop #idols, can face serious mental health risks because of pressure, perfectionism, cyberbullying, and exhausting industry expectations.

I read two different articles that show the contradiction of the Hagwon system. In the first article they talk about how spending on private education has jumped 60 % over the past decade. www.koreatimes.co.kr/economy/2026... koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2026-03...

Spending on private education jumps 60% over past decade: data - The Korea Times

Korean families' spending on private education for their children has jumped by more than 60 percent over the past decade, government data showed S...

koreatimes.co.kr

#China once fined families for having “too many” children, and now it cannot even pay people enough to want them. That says a lot about how the social construction of having children has changed. edition.cnn.com/2025/08/05/c...

China used to fine couples for having too many babies. Now it can’t pay them enough | CNN

Pessimistic about the future, young people in China don’t want to have children – a growing trend that worries the government as it tries to avert a population crisis of its own making.

edition.cnn.com

I read this article about how Japan is redesigning tourism to benefit the local communities. The problem is that the stays are concentrated on only five prefectures. www.weforum.org/stories/2025...

Japan is responding to overtourism, prioritizing communities

Japan is combatting overtourism by promoting regional travel, using tech to ease congestion, and funding local projects for sustainable, community-driven tourism.

weforum.org

#Jennie from BlackPink has made a really successful deal with #Chanel already in 2018 and has been continuing that ever since. It is estimated that being and ambassador for Chanel Jennie makes around 4.3 billion won. www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXWJ...

JENNIE is the Face of the CHANEL 25 Handbag Campaign

YouTube video by CHANEL

youtube.com

I read this article about how conservative South Korean lawmakers want immigration authorities to publish crime statistics on foreign nationals, broken down by nationality and visa status. Those who oppose this fear that these measures could fuel xenophobia. www.scmp.com/news/asia/ea...

South Korea’s proposed foreign crime bill sparks xenophobia fears

Critics say a bill to publish crime stats on foreign nationals stigmatises immigrants and ignores data showing their lower crime rates.

scmp.com

I think #K-pop has definitely become more mainstream lately, but that does not mean it has lost its uniqueness. To me, the distinctive K-pop style still feels very recognizable.

I picked SM Entertainment. Its founder was Lee Soo-man. He actually started out as a singer, then studied in the U.S., and after seeing how music was becoming more visual there, especially with MTV, he came back to Korea with a much bigger idea. www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kAF...

토요일 토요일은 즐거워 - Lee Soo-man - Happiness, 이수만 - 행복, Saturday Night Music Show 19930102

YouTube video by 엠플리 MBC Playlist

youtube.com

I read this article about workers who make #Labubu toys, and what stood out to me was how the story was framed. www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...

Workers at Chinese factory that produces Labubu toys are being exploited, says NGO

Exclusive: China Labor Watch says people aged 16-18 employed without required special protections

theguardian.com

Kim Gwang-seok was not only very popular, but also a really influential folk-rock singer, and he first started his career in the group Dongmulwon, which debuted in 1988 and became widely successful.

I saw this Unseen Japan post about how a poll made by Rohto Pharmaceuticals shoes that for the first time in history the percentage of women who didn't want children exceeded that of men with women fearing how that will impact their career.

Park’s rule reached far beyond politics. It also shaped culture and music, showing how power tried to control not only people’s lives, but also their voices.

The Korean Kittens especially, Yoon Bok-hee was and still is an extraordinary performer during the 1960s and onwards with her strong performance and voice.

The Korean Kittens What'd I Say

YouTube video by weirdozvidz

youtube.com